Tigers drop two matches

Volleyball team looking forward to today's contest

Steamboat Springs  It's been a tough couple of days for the Hayden volleyball team.

After beating league rival Soroco in four games last week, the Tigers lost their matches against North Park and Rangely.

Against North Park on Saturday, Hayden dominated the first game, 25-18, but lost the following three games, 25-15, 25-15, 25-22.

The Tigers were then swept in three games by Rangely on Tuesday, 25-14, 25-18, 25-17.

Still, there is a sense of optimism coming from the Tigers.

Playing a dominant league opponent in North Park, the Tigers won the first game in impressive fashion.

"In the game against North Park, I think that's the best we ever played," senior Emily Whiteman said. "We came out really strong."

Whiteman said the team found a rhythm of passing, setting and hitting that led to a strong victory.

In the following games, the Tigers struggled to get back into that rhythm.

"I think we kind of just got down on ourselves and fell apart a little bit," senior Jeni Medvesk said. "We worked hard as a team but just couldn't get going."

Against Rangely on Tuesday, Medvesk said the team may have been feeling the effects of the loss against North Park.

She said the team came out and wasn't as focused as it should have been.

"I just don't think we were ready to play," she said. "We really didn't work as a team."

With more than half the season left, including tonight's game against Baggs, Wyo., and Friday's contest against West Grand, Whiteman and Medvesk said onlookers shouldn't get down on this team. Considering the camaraderie of the team and its ability to play, both said they expect big things out of this season.